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My future not a priority, says Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton's contract will expire at the end of the year. And like every other professional athlete in his position, he swears that he isn't thinking about it. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

Lewis Hamilton is out of a contract at the end of 2012, and after a few problems in the McLaren camp this year, inevitably his name has been linked with other teams.

However he insisted today that he’s in no hurry to sort out his contractual situation, and says that he is focusing on winning this year’s title.

“I haven’t even discussed it,” said Hamilton in Montreal. “I think it’s just because I underestimated how difficult the season was going to be, I underestimated about how busy I’d be, and I also realize how unimportant it is at the moment. The championship’s more important than what I plan to do with my next contract.

“My future at the moment is not important. I might not even see next year. So, you know, what’s the point? I have to make sure I maximize and capitalize on this year.”

Asked whether he might even wait until the end of the season, he said: “Possibly.”

Pressed on whether he had other options, he said: “I’m not looking at anyone else, as I said, I’m just trying to focus on this season, just trying to focus on winning. I have other people to worry about those things. When the time comes, they sit down and say ‘What do you want to do?’ And I can give them an answer. But I don’t have to do it at the moment.

“I think I could sit down if I wanted to, but I’ve got a job, and I am in no rush, I really am in no rush at all, so there’s no need to do it.”